Heber C. Kimball Prophesies Clothing Will Be Cheaper in Salt Lake City Than in New York — Fulfilled by Gold Rush Emigrants

In the summer of 1849, two months before the first wave of gold rush emigrants passed through the Salt Lake Valley, President Heber C. Kimball made a striking prophecy. Aroet Lucious Hale recorded it in his journal:

'This reminds me of a prophecy of President Heber C. Kimball two months before the gold emigration came into the valley. He prophesied that clothing would be cheaper in Salt Lake City than it was in New York City.'

At the time, this would have seemed absurd. The Saints were in desperate straits — eating raw hides, sego lily roots, and thistle roots to survive. Bread was almost unobtainable. A fine horse, saddle, and bridle could barely be traded for three pecks of corn meal.

Then the gold emigrants arrived — overladen with supplies they could no longer carry to California. Aroet continued: 'We saw this prophecy come to pass. They were loaded too heavy to continue their journey and all had something to sell or trade — horses, harnesses or wagons, clothing, provisions, cooking utensils, stoves, tents, guns and ammunition. This was considered a God send.'

The sudden flood of goods from California-bound emigrants, desperate to lighten their loads, drove prices so low that the prophecy was precisely fulfilled. Within weeks, the starving settlement was transformed.